15th matchday: BVB stumbles in Bochum, Bavaria pulls away

Dhe superiority of Borussia Dortmund was overwhelming. But it was not enough to win. BVB only scored 1-1 (0: 1) at VfL Bochum and continue to lose contact to league leaders FC Bayern.

There was a change in Dortmund’s starting eleven compared to Tuesday’s game in the Champions League against Besiktas Istanbul (5-0). Can and Haaland played for Witsel (on the bench) and Malen (virus infection). At Bochum, Riemann was back in goal after his injury break.

And he had to prove himself time and time again, Dortmund had a significant increase in chances. The goal was made by VfL, Polter scored with a penalty (40th minute) after a foul on Antwi-Adjei. In addition, a BVB hit by Wolf was canceled after referee Jöllenbeck had watched the video sequence (55th). Bellingham was offside and in Riemann’s line of sight when shooting.

As a result, a game on one goal finally developed – that of Bochum. But only Brandt managed to overcome the rivals from the Ruhr Valley, who defended them courageously (85th) and to secure at least one point for BVB.

Bayern Munich – Mainz 05 2-1

He celebrated the anniversary success in his winter coat. The 2: 1 (1: 0) of his FC Bayern against 1. FSV Mainz 05 was Julian Nagelsmann’s 100th victory as a coach in the Bundesliga. And hard work for the people of Munich. Nagelsmann had to do without the ailing Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich. The unvaccinated national player should have played again after a week-long break due to quarantine and corona infection. But because of slight infiltration in the lungs, Kimmich cannot train fully.

“We now all assume that the whole thing will be done in seven to ten days. Then he is built up like a player who was injured for four weeks, “said Nagelsmann Saturday on Sky. The new Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) turned to Kimmich on the TV broadcaster BILD and wished him that he would get completely healthy: “Such a case naturally shows how dangerous the infection is.”

This also applies if you are very healthy and well trained. Striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was also absent due to the consequences of a corona infection. Corentin Tolisso played in midfield for Kimmich. Bayern lacked ideas in the first half, Alphonso Davies (9th) and Thomas Müller (32nd) missed scoring opportunities. Defensively, the Munich team were unsure.

Mainz played bravely and were efficient: Karim Onisiwo headed a cross from Jonathan Burkardt to make it 1-0 (22nd minute). Bayern still struggled. Then Kingsley Coman equalized after a flying ball from Tolissos (53rd). His team now pushed for the winning goal, and Jamal Musiala scored from around 16 meters to make it 2-1 (74th).

RB Leipzig – Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1

Before the kick-off in the Red Bull Arena, which was closed due to Corona, it was all a matter of head for the two coaches: Leipzig’s new coach Tedesco spoke of a “clear pear” that his players would need from now on. After the 6-0 embarrassment against Freiburg, Gladbach’s haters were even hit by a “punch in the face.” There was another blow in Leipzig. RB won 3-1 (2-0) and sealed the third defeat in a row for Borussia. The pressure on Hütter is increasing.

Tedesco’s team was strong as a bear from the start: Leipzig pushed forward with speed and scored the well-deserved 1-0 header through Gvardiol (21st minute). The Saxons continued to combine and increased through Silva (33rd), who forgave after the break in front of the empty goal (52nd). Even if Gladbach shortened to 1: 2 (88th) by Bensebaini, Nkunku and Henrichs made everything clear to their goals in stoppage time.

SC Freiburg – TSG Hoffenheim 1:2

TSG Hoffenheim jumps onto a Champions League place. Chris Richards headed the winning goal in the 2: 1 (1: 1) against SC Freiburg literally in the last second (90th + 4th)

TSG had made a lightning start against Freibug. After just three minutes, David Raum was undisturbed to lead the hosts. Freiburg shook itself briefly and scored the equalizer through Nico Schlotterbeck (21st). In the second half, Freiburg’s Vincenzo Grifo had the chance to win: But the attacker failed from the penalty spot on Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann (62nd). Then Richards struck.

Hertha BSC – Arminia Bielefeld 2-0

Tayfun Korkut had emphasized before the game against Bielefeld and called for the “next steps” to have a lot of confidence in his team. In the 2-0 (0-0) against Arminia, Berlin’s coach just had to wait a long time for his players to repay his trust.

Hertha tried hard for one half, but successful scenes could hardly be admired in the empty Olympic Stadium. After the break, a fine lob from Ishak Belfodil prepared the decisive goal by Stefan Jovetic (53rd). Davie Selke scored 2-0 in stoppage time. With the home win, the Berlin team increased the distance to the relegation zone.

VfL Wolfsburg – VfB Stuttgart 0: 2 (0: 1)

After losing the Champions League, VfL Wolfsburg is still in crisis in the Bundesliga. The Lower Saxony lost 2-0 (0-1) against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday evening and, after losing their fifth competitive game in a row, fell back to tenth place in the table in their only remaining competition. For the first time since he moved to Wolfsburg three and a half years ago, shouts of “Schmadtke out” against the VfL sports director could be heard in the stadium.

The Greek Konstantinos Mavropanos took the hammer out on his 24th birthday and hit in the 25th minute with a powerful long-range shot that hit the top right corner of the goal for VfB. Philipp Förster increased to 2-0 (63rd), Wolfsburg loan Omar Marmoush even missed a penalty in the 79th minute. After the injuries to Borna Sosa (back) and Niklas Nartey (knee) shortly before the game and Roberto Massimo just before the 0-1, this success was dearly paid for, but also necessary. Because after the victories of FC Augsburg and Berlin Hertha, the Stuttgart would have fallen back to 16th place in the event of a draw.

How tense the situation in Wolfsburg is was shown even before the kick-off. Sports director Schmadtke ended his weeks of public restraint and presented himself in front of his team and his coach in a Sky interview. “VfL Wolfsburg is not the disgrace of German football,” replied the 57-year-old to what he thought was excessive criticism after the 3-1 defeat in the decisive Champions League group game against OSC Lille. Florian Kohfeldt, who was only signed up in October, is also outside of any discussion. “Unfortunately, he has to pay for God’s things that are in the past,” said Schmadtke, referring to Kohfeldt’s predecessor Mark van Bommel.